Blog Archives

Happy New Year to all of Poetry Friday!

12/28/2017

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I'm not much for resolutions, but this year felt different. I'm looking forward to a productive writing year and hope you all have productive years as well. In that spirit, here is a poem I wrote describing my writing resolution for the new year. Blessings to all and Peace on Earth!

Thank you to Heidi for hosting. It is a fun day to be hosting to be sure. Best wishes for a wonderful year, Heidi!

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My First School Visit Including Student Poems

12/14/2017

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Reading my "Bird on the Brain" poem, inspired by Paul Klee's painting with my little Crazy Bird looking on. A bird on the brain can be one great big pain...!

I spoke to 4 classes of 5th graders at Pinecrest Elementary for The Great American Teachin on 11/16/17 involving Ms. Gould, Ms. Galvin, Ms. Sparks and Ms. Boyle. Pinecrest Elementary is in Lithia, FL, a beautiful, very large elementary school in a rural town. It was lovely!

My power point presentation included poem readings, poem performances, and discussion of the poems. The students were welcoming and seemed to be enjoying my talk. Since many of my poems were about animals, I asked the students to do "homework" - write a poem about an animal - any animal - or write a poem in the voice of an animal. Here is the wonderful and heart-warming smorgasbord of poems and pictures that I received, not to mention the lovely letters of appreciation!

Let's start out with a poem by Levi, who wrote:

Love that last line, Levi!

Here's a note and poem by Savannah!

Here's a fun poem by Joleigh!

Nice, Joleigh! Got to get rid of that hair
sittin' everywhere!

And a lovely note and poem from Evan!

That's a good ending, Evan!

Next, a poem by Jacob M.

.That's a wonderful poem, Jacob, and what a long-lived dog! I wish every dog would live that long! :)

Thank you for sending a poem about losing a pet, Eric! This poem is by an anonymous poet and can be found HERE

Thank you, also, to Lenis G. for your lovely note!

Thank you, thank you, Lithia Elementary, for welcoming me. I had a wonderful time sharing my poetry with your 5th graders! And to you 5th graders - you know who you are - keep on writing! All the Best, B.J. Lee

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Visit my Website
my Website

Author

B. J. Lee is a children’s author and poet. Her picture book, There Was an Old Gator Who Swallowed a Moth, is launching with Pelican Publishing on February 15, 2019. She has poems in 25 poetry anthologies published by Little, Brown, Wordsong, BloomsburyUK, National Geographic, Otter-Barry Books, Pomelo Books, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has worked with anthologists Lee Bennett Hopkins, J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt. She has written poems for such children’s magazines as Spider, Highlights and The School Magazine. Follow her on Twitter @bjlee_writer.

Poets' Garage website

Includes my poem "Skateboard Girl"

Includes my poem "The Red Crabs of Christmas Island"

Coming in 2018 National Geographic's book of US: 200 Poems of People, Places, and Passions (edited by J. Patrick Lewis.)
Will include my poem, "Groundhognostication"